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Be the Change; Better Yet, Beat Change into Others

This is a proud moment for me: An old friend and protege, Kirk Wimberley, had his first op-ed published today, in the Seattle Press-Intelligencer. He discusses his reflections on a rowdy, pro-Obama party on election night.

Some salient passages:

Sniggers and sneers accompanied McCain’s parting words as conversation bubbled up around me; their reactions were bitter and their words were cutting. They were no better than the dejected naysayers in Arizona….

I struggled to hear McCain’s speech, but sensed his courage to stand humbly before an America that didn’t want him to be president. Even he acknowledged the historical significance of Obama’s victory. I felt sympathy for McCain….

Later, during his acceptance speech, Obama confirmed his campaign demeanor by saying, “I will listen to you especially when we disagree.” Back at the election night party, I encountered the opposite sentiment. The celebrating politicos reminded me of the entrenched divisions still thriving in America. If we don’t put aside our bitter differences, Obama’s historical triumph will be reversed and we the people will have failed — plunging us further into cynicism.

A couple of thoughts about Kirk’s terrific piece:

First, I do think McCain was gracious and humble in his concession, as was Palin in defeat, but that alone bothers me. They weren’t gracious or humble in continually suggesting that Obama was a dangerous wacko leftist who would destroy the fabric of American society. They were either insincere in their concessions or insincere in their attacks. It’s more likely the latter. But that cynical campaign strategy helped escalate a certain hatred of Obama that’s counterproductive for us all working together.

Perhaps my many conservative friends who won’t talk to me these days are more sincere and consistent than McCain/Palin in their muted, heartbroken reactions to Obama’s victory. Yet I’ll confess I’m a little peeved about how I really don’t believe I avoided them for so many days after a Reagan or a Bush won re-election.
That, to me does show that Kirk is right. Both pro-Obama hubris and anti-Obama seething are dangers to our effort to show that democracy really is a system worth infusing into other nations. And I like how Kirk closes his piece:

Make a renewed commitment to work together, to honor the innate dignity in others and to meet on common ground. Each one of us, regardless of political affiliation, is responsible for that mission in the coming years.

Amen to that.

And there’s another reason for conservatives to come in off the ledge. Here‘s a governor willing to make tough choices in cutting spending for social services and education due to economic constraints. And he’s a Democrat. A good omen…?